Digital Commons Network^™

Real-Time Transport Of Internet Telephony Service Utilizing Embedded Resource-Constrained Systems, Kyle Persohn

Master's Theses (2009 -)

No abstract provided.

Dealing With Sedimental Transport Over Partly Non-Erodible Bottoms, François Rulot, Benjamin Dewals, Pierre Archambeau, Michael Pirotton, Sébastien Erpicum Hece

International Junior Researcher and Engineer Workshop on Hydraulic Structures

ABSTRACT: In depth-averaged flow and morphodynamic models using a finite volume discretization based on explicit time integration, a specific difficulty can arise during a computation: the computed sediment level can become lower than the level of a non-erodible bottom. The original developments presented in this paper enable correction of the non-physical sediment levels. The method, based on iterative limitation of the outward fluxes, is perfectly mass conservative and remains computationally efficient. The resulting model has been validated with several 1D benchmarks leading to configurations with sediment transport over a nonerodible bottom. Two interesting experimental benchmarks are highlighted in this paper …

A Location-Aware Architecture Supporting Intelligent Real-Time Mobile Applications, Sean J. Barbeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents LAISYC, a modular location-aware architecture for intelligent real-time mobile applications that is fully-implementable by third party mobile app developers and supports high-precision and high-accuracy positioning systems such as GPS. LAISYC significantly improves device battery life, provides location data authenticity, ensures security of location data, and significantly reduces the amount of data transferred between the phone and server. The design, implementation, and evaluation of LAISYC using real mobile phones include the following modules: the GPS Auto-Sleep module saves battery energy when using GPS, maintaining acceptable movement tracking (approximately 89% accuracy) with an approximate average doubling of battery life. …

Independent Moisture-Sensitive Automatic Watering System, Jessica Sherbon

Electrical Engineering

With the availability of home improvement supplies, plant owners can quickly and easily set up an automatic system that waters their gardens based on a specified schedule. However, most of these systems require an electric outlet or water faucet making them unusable in locations where installed water and power lines do not exist, such as apartment balconies. This project defines a small-scale automated watering system that runs independently of installed water and power lines. The system takes water from a reservoir, such as a tank or bucket, and supplies that water to individual plants via a drip system. The design …

Safety Improvements At Highway-Railroad Crossing For Pedestrians And Bicyclists And The Assessment Of Long-Term Effects Of Centerline Curbing, Aemal Khattak, Zheng Luo

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Towards The Deployment And Adoption Of Location-Based Services For Optimal Mobile Communication Operations In Africa, Folasade Dahunsi

The African Journal of Information Systems

Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent with about one billion people. Mobile phones are a major source of communication and means of taking information and technology to rural and remote areas of the continent. With low-cost and readily available mobile phones, underprivileged, low-income earners and rural dwellers can also participate in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution. Services are introduced by mobile operators and vendors to enhance and optimize this mobile evolution. One of such service is location-based services (LBS); LBS make available personalized services based on the geographical location of the subscriber’s phone. …

Computer-Aided Engineering Tools For Structural Health Monitoring Under Operational Conditions, Priscilla O. Mensah-Bonsu

Master's Theses

This thesis presents two different applications of computer-aided non-destructive approaches for structures monitored under operational conditions. The first part of the thesis is the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) software for real-time autonomous assessment of structural health condition based on the signature vibration properties of the structure under study. The program, called ConImote2, operates on the wireless sensor network platform called imote2. ConImote2 is created in the Matlab platform for accessibility and to enable extension of its capabilities by the user. The primary goal of creating the program is to overcome the issue of data inundation from SHM …

Monitoring And Modeling Of The Hydraulic And Sediment Processes At In-Stream Restoration Structures In The Vicinity Of A Bridge Crossing, Brian P. Schultz

Master’s Theses

The long-term performance of infrastructure depends on reliable and sustainable designs. Many of Pennsylvania’s streams experience sediment transport problems that increase maintenance costs and lower structural integrity of bridge crossings. A stream restoration project is one common mitigation measure used to correct such problems at bridge crossings. Specifically, in an attempt to alleviate aggradation problems with the Old Route 15 Bridge crossing on White Deer Creek, in White Deer, PA, two in-stream structures (rock cross vanes) and several bank stabilization features were installed along with a complete channel redevelopment. The objectives of this research were to characterize the hydraulic and …

Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study, John Brophy, Fred Culick, Louis Friedman, Pedro Llanos, Et Al.

Publications

This report describes the results of a study sponsored by the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) to investigate the feasibility of identifying, robotically capturing, and returning an entire Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) to the vicinity of the Earth by the middle of the next decade. The KISS study was performed by people from Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, Langley Research Center, the California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard University, the Naval Postgraduate School, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California at Santa Cruz, University of Southern …

Acuta Enews April 2012 Vol. 41, No. 4

ACUTA Newsletters

In this issue...

1 Dan McCarriar Is Appointed Director-at-Large

2 The Year in Review

3 Standards, Best Practices Coming for UC Cloud Interoperability

4 What's on Your Desk Today?

5 lnfo Links

6 Cognitive Load Management: Navigating the Coming Data Flood

6 Add Names from Your Campus

7 E911 Challenges

7 Committee Corner

8 Member Benefit of the Month: Volunteer Opportunities

9 Board Report

10 Welcome New Members

10 Check It Out

Mathematical Modeling Of Pipeline Features For Robotic Inspection, Yang Gao

Doctoral Dissertations

Underground pipeline systems play an indispensable role in transporting liquids in both developed and developing countries. The associated social and economic cost to repair a pipe upon abrupt failure is often unacceptable. Regular inspection is a preventative action that aims to monitor pipe conditions, catch abnormalities and reduce the chance of undesirable surprises. Robots with CCTV video cameras have been used for decades to inspect pipelines, yielding only qualitative information. It is becoming necessary and preferable for municipalities, project managers and engineers to also quantify the 3-D geometry of underground pipe networks. Existing robots equipped specialized hardware and software algorithms …

Impact Of Self-Reported Biases And Familiarity In A Baggage Screening Context, Scott W. Halwes

Theses and Dissertations

A common assumption is that items that evoke strong emotions are more easily recognized than items that do not evoke strong emotions (Bessette-Symons, 2008). For example, items such as guns or knives may evoke strong emotions within some people, and it may be presumed that these items may be more easily recognized by people that have strong emotions associated with them. If this is true, then perhaps these people would be more apt to locate these items in situations such as baggage screening services that rely on accurate detection of weapons for the public's safety. This study explores this reasoning …

The Application Of Sensors On Guardrails For The Purpose Of Real Time Impact Detection, Matthew D. Sturtevant

Theses and Dissertations

The United States roadway system has deteriorated over time due to its age, increasing delays in completing preventative maintenance, and the lack of timely repairs following damage to the infrastructure. Proper asset management drives the need for generalized methods to integrate new sensing capabilities into existing Intelligent Transportation Systems in a time efficient and cost effective manner. In this thesis, we present a methodology for the deployment of new sensors into an existing ITS system. The proposed methodology employs a three phase approach that incorporates data modeling, spatial analysis in Geographic Information Systems, and cost optimization to provide enhanced decision …

Real-Time Change And Damage Detection Of Landslides And Other Earth Movements Threatening Public Infrastructure, Michael J. Olsen, Shawn Butcher, Evon P. Silvia

TREC Final Reports

Geologic hazards such as coastal erosion, landslides, seismic loading, etc. constantly threaten public highway construction and maintenance. Repeat surveys using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, ground-based LiDAR) enable rapid 3D data acquisition to map, see, analyze, and understand the processes generating such problems. Previously, change detection and analysis between scan surveys was conducted during post-processing upon return to the office, instead of while collecting data in the field. Change detection in the field improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the field investigation. We have developed a new algorithm that quickly geo-references scans upon field acquisition and simultaneously performs change detection by …

Development Of The Oregon Traffic Safety Data Archive: Phases 1 And 2, Christopher M. Monsere, Myenwoo Lim, Chengxin Dai, Xiaowei Wu

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report describes the preliminary work to develop the Oregon Traffic Safety Data Archive (OrTSDA). The mission of OrTSDA is to "build the knowledge base of traffic safety data in Oregon". The archive hopes to become a valuable traffic safety data resource with researchers, practitioners, and community supporters. As envisioned, the archive will provide current and historical versions of related data, encompass complete documentation, and contain an online interface to the variety of traffic safety related data. Working with partner state agencies, the archive contains reported motor vehicle crashes statewide, population data, estimates of vehicle miles traveled, traffic crime, and …

Source Localization Via Time Difference Of Arrival, Ciprian Romeo Comsa

Dissertations

Accurate localization of a signal source, based on the signals collected by a number of receiving sensors deployed in the source surrounding area is a problem of interest in various fields. This dissertation aims at exploring different techniques to improve the localization accuracy of non-cooperative sources, i.e., sources for which the specific transmitted symbols and the time of the transmitted signal are unknown to the receiving sensors. With the localization of non-cooperative sources, time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the signals received at pairs of sensors is typically employed.

A two-stage localization method in multipath environments is proposed. During the …

Model To Describe The Mode I Fracture Of Steel Fiber Reinforced Ultra-High Performance Concrete, Eric L. Kreiger

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has arisen from the implementation of a variety of concrete engineering and materials science concepts developed over the last century. This material offers superior strength, serviceability, and durability over its conventional counterparts. One of the most important differences for UHPFRC over other concrete materials is its ability to resist fracture through the use of randomly dispersed discontinuous fibers and improvements to the fiber-matrix bond. Of particular interest is the materials ability to achieve higher loads after first crack, as well as its high fracture toughness. In this research, a study of the fracture behavior …

Effects Of Geometric Design Features On Truck Crashes On Limited-Access Highways, Sundanda Dissanayake Ph.D., P.E., Niranga Amarasingha M.S.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Freight can be transported between most points in the country quite efficiently using trucks. However, involvement of large trucks in crashes can cause much damage and serious injuries, due to their large sizes and heavy weights. Large truck crashes occurring on limited-access highways may be more severe than crashes occurring on other roadways due to high speed limits, and traffic- and geometric-related characteristics. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationships between large truck crash probability, and traffic and geometric characteristics. Crash data from 2005 to 2010 were obtained from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), which included …

Investigation Of Factors Associated With Truck Crash Severity In Nebraska, Aemal Khattak, Zheng Luo M.S, Mia Gao

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The severity of truck crashes is a concern in the state of Nebraska. This study was undertaken to investigate factors associated with truck crash severity. A two-year dataset obtained from the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) was analyzed to determine those factors. Results indicated that the involvement of alcohol was associated with more severe injuries in truck crashes on Nebraska highways. Crashes involving farm equipment were more injurious than other truck crashes. Dawn and dusk were critical periods associated with more severe truck crashes. Further, the absence of medians contributed to truck crash severity. Crashes on adverse pavement conditions such …

Development Of A Methodology For Assessment Of Crash Costs At Highway- Rail Grade Crossings In Nebraska, Aemal Khattak, Eric Thompson

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

An accurate measure of crash costs is required to support effective decision-making about transportation investments. In particular, underinvestment will occur if measurement fails to capture the full cost of crashes. Such mis-measurement and underinvestment may be occurring in the case of crashes at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs). HRGC crash costs can be substantial because of the severity of crashes. However, another important potential cost is the disruption to the transportation and logistics system. Existing methodologies capture the first set of costs but often fail to fully capture the second set. This research provides a standardized methodology for assessing the expected …

Safety Improvements At Highway-Railroad Crossing For Pedestrians And Bicyclists And The Assessment Of Long- Term Effects Of Centerline Curbing, Aemal Khattak, Zheng Luo

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The focus of the research reported herein was on assessing the long-term effectiveness of median barriers at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs), the impacts of barrier maintenance in resurrecting safety, and on exploring and assessing ways to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety at HRGCs. Nebraska has about 7,000 HRGCs and each one represents a potential conflict point among trains and highway users, i.e., motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Safety at HRGCs is compromised when highway users resort to unsafe maneuvers, such as passing around closed gates when trains are approaching. Gate-related violations by motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists were studied at three selected …

Use Of Fiber Bragg Grating (Fbg) Sensors For Performing Automated Bridge Pier Structural Damage Detection And Scour Monitoring, A.N. Thanos Papnicolaou Ph.D., Achilleas Tsakiris

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors able to detect impacts with different frequencies on a bridge pier. The FBG technology was evaluated under controlled conditions in a laboratory flume set-up to mimic the flow, sediment, and design characteristics of a pier structure. The system was calibrated using site-specific properties to relate strain to a known magnitude force for different bridge pier designs, different scour depths, and structural impacts. The FBGs proved a reliable measure of strain and displacement for key components of bridge structures, such as piers, during varying flow …

Business And Wealth Transfer In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska 2012 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, Odee Ingersoll, Shawn Kaskie

Rural Futures Institute: Publications

Includes

Executive Summary

Introduction

Businesses in the Community

Expected Number of Businesses in Local Community Five Years from Now by Community Size

Most Likely Outcome when Business Owner Leaves or Retires in Community

Business Exits and Transitions

Concern with Business Exits

Concern that Business Closings will Affect Ability to Get Needed Things by Occupation

Views of Community Strategies for Business Exits

Community Well-Being In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska 2012 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben

Rural Futures Institute: Publications

Includes

Executive Summary

Trends in Community Ratings, 1996-2012

Community Change, 1996-2012

Expected Destination of Those Planning to Move: 1998-2012

Proportions of Respondents Very or Somewhat Satisfied with Each Service, 1997-2012

The Community and Its Attributes in 2012

Perceptions of Community Change by Community Size

Expected Community Change in Ten Years by Community Size

Satisfaction with Cellular Phone Service by Community Size

Difficulty or Ease of Leaving Community

Ease or Difficulty of Leaving Community by Length of Residence in Community

Feelings of Community Powerlessness by Community Size

Local Community Involvement Activities, 2002 and 2012

Distance from Goods and Services

Distance from …

Eastern Ichigan University Graduate Catalog, 2012-2013, Office Of The Registrar

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

To License Or Not To License Updated: An Examination Of State Statutes Regarding Private Investigators And Digital Examiners, Thomas Lonardo, Doug White, Alan Rea

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In this update to the 2009 year's study, the authors examine statutes that regulate, license, and enforce investigative functions in each US state. After identification and review of Private Investigator licensing requirements, the authors find that very few state statutes explicitly differentiate between Private Investigators and Digital Examiners, but do see a trend of more states making some distinction. The authors contacted all state regulatory agencies where statutory language was not explicit, and as a result, set forth the various state approaches to professional Digital Examiner licensing. As was the case in the previous two iterations of this research, the …

Tiered Networks: Modeling, Resource And Interference Management, Mustafa Cenk Erturk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The wireless networks of the future are likely to be tiered, i.e., a heterogeneous mixture of overlaid networks that have different power, spectrum, hardware, coverage, mobility, complexity, and technology requirements. The focus of this dissertation is to improve the performance and increase the throughput of tiered networks with resource/interference management methods, node densification schemes, and transceiver designs; with their applications to advanced tiered network structures such as heterogeneous networks (i.e., picocells, femtocells, relay nodes, and distributed antenna systems), device-to-device (D2D) networks, and aeronautical communication networks (ACN).

Over the last few decades, there has been an incredible increase in the demand …

Study Of Human Activity In Video Data With An Emphasis On View-Invariance, Nazim Ashraf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The perception and understanding of human motion and action is an important area of research in computer vision that plays a crucial role in various applications such as surveillance, HCI, ergonomics, etc. In this thesis, we focus on the recognition of actions in the case of varying viewpoints and different and unknown camera intrinsic parameters. The challenges to be addressed include perspective distortions, differences in viewpoints, anthropometric variations, and the large degrees of freedom of articulated bodies. In addition, we are interested in methods that require little or no training. The current solutions to action recognition usually assume that there …

Lane Changing Control To Reduce Traffic Load Effect On Long-Span Bridges, Colin C. Caprani, Bernard Enright, Colm Carey

Conference papers

Long span bridges are critical parts of a nation’s infrastructure network and congested traffic loading is the governing form of traffic loading. Groups of trucks travelling in conveys are created when fast-er moving vehicles, such as cars, change lane. In this research the authors investigate how the control of these lane-changing events can help reduce the traffic load effects on long span bridges. Real traffic data is used to simulate a traffic stream on a virtual road and bridge using a microsimulation model. Various lane-changing restrictions are examined and compared to the typical case of free lane changing. It is …

Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis And Prevention, Dean L. Sicking, Cody S. Stolle

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Cross-median crashes have been identified as one of the highest injury or fatality risk crash types. Although crossmedian crashes account for only 2% to 5% of all median crash events, they are disproportionately represented in the number and frequency of fatalities on interstate roadways. Many states have utilized cable median barriers to reduce the risk of cross-median crashes, frequently with great success. However, cable median barriers are also fixed obstacles to errant vehicles. Cable median barriers can place occupants at increased risk of severe injury or fatality if the barrier fails to adequately contain and redirect errant vehicles, resulting in …